Kodai
高台/KOH-dye/
The unglazed foot ring at the bottom of a chawan.
Also known as: foot ring
The kodai is the small unglazed circular foot at the bottom of a chawan — the part that touches the table. Left unglazed by design: it's the maker's signature, often shows the natural color of the clay, and prevents the bowl from sliding when wet. Never put soap on the kodai; the unglazed clay absorbs it and bleeds back into your next bowl of matcha.
In practice
- The ring-shaped foot a chawan stands on, formed by trimming away clay from the base after throwing.
- Usually left unglazed, which is why it is the part of a bowl collectors examine first — bare clay tells you the body, the kiln and often the maker.
- A well-cut kodai keeps the bowl stable on a mat and lifts the hot base off the surface it stands on.
The common mistake
Scrubbing the unglazed foot with detergent. Porous bare clay absorbs it and will release soap flavour into later bowls. Rinse with water only.
